(I have also posted this on another Forum, but I wanted to share w/all)
Cindy has always admonished the people on the Forums to go directly to the leaders of PFHA and ask questions instead of only complaining about things on Forums. So, I took Cindy’s advice and contacted directly the President of PFHA, Mr. Ed Smith and the Executive Director of PFHA, Ms Mary Emmons.
Here’s how it went:
I had a question. I only needed a simple “yes” or “no” answer. But, I needed this answer from “the top” and not just from the office staff because I was getting conflicting information. I asked for the answer in writing i.e. e-mail or letter not verbal. In early July, I e-mailed both the PFHA President and Executive Director at the e-mail addresses listed on the PFHA official website. I never got a response. I e-mailed the question at least 3 times over several weeks and never got a response to my e-mail inquiries.
The next thing I did was to write a letter to the PFHA President, Mr. Smith and to the PFHA Executive Director, Ms Emmons. I mailed the letters to each of them via US Postal Service Return Receipt Requested (at my sole expense) so I could be assured that my letters were received. I mailed them to the addresses listed on the official PFHA website and the State of FL Corporations Not for Profit Annual Reports listings. The letter I mailed to Mr. Ed Smith, the President of PFHA was returned to me unopened! The US Postal Service notified Mr. Smith at least 3 times and he refused to sign for or accept the letter.
Ms Emmons, PFHA Executive Director did sign for and receive my letter. She then answered my question via e-mail in August, several weeks after my initial inquiry.
Just thought I’d share my experience with communicating with the PFHA Leadership…
Well, there is no excuse for not answering legitimate questions from potential advertisers and potential members in a timely fashion. It's poor business practice and they should know better.
The answer I received was not a surprise to me. Even tho the issue of Diagonals had been voted on in Jan. 2009 and therefore discussed in 2008, apparently there had been no strategic analysis or analysis at all of the far reaching implications of the decision such as: Now that Diagonal owners will be full Members of PFHA, will we change current Policy and let them advertise in the PFHA Horse World Magazine or in the Grand National Show Program? This issue should have been resolved months ago. Is PFHA a Club or a Professional Organization??? (Why do I keep hearing the song in my mind M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E....)
But, my purpose in getting a written, clear response was in order for my Farm to plan its advertising campaign for the Fall show season, to include the IPHF US National Trials and the PFHA Grand National Show. My ad budget did not include room to advertise in multiple publications and deadlines were fast approaching. I did manage to get an Ad in Showtime Equestrian Magazine--a Full Page, Color Ad designed by Cheri Prill that looks great! Showtime Staff were a dream to work with!
I won't be going to PFHA Grand Nationals--it would be hypocritical of me to go when I disagree with so much of what they are doing, but those of you who do go, maybe you can ask Mr. Smith why he does not answer e-mails and letters.
This is the kind of things that are getting us discourage to go to any shows with PFHA. I can't beleive he refused to sign for your letter, they just don't care.
It did not take them that long to send me a letter stating that I had to pay $100 dollar find to let two kids get on Bolero last year at the National, they did not have helmets on but it was just for a few feet to the stall and I did not know any better, and the guy was SO RUDE!!! The kids were almost in tears.
I wrote them a letter explaning what happened but they kept on calling me to tell me that I had to appear in front of a panel or I could choose to do a conference call instead and after the third call from Mary cancelling the appeal I finally told Mary Emmons to charge me the darn $100 bucks, I wanted to move on and forget about the whole thing. It was an honest mistake, I really did not know about the helmet law but now I do.
_________________ Jacky McDaniel
Wildflower Paso Fino &
Trote Y Galope
Home of BOLERO de Sierra Morena
Ocala FL.
I can understand about 'helmets for kids', but, do they have to be rude about this? An official could have just informed you politely about the 'rules', and told you that next time a child is on your horse on official showgrounds, without a helmet, you will be fined... Just like PFHA, all about $$$. They sure know all about rules. Heck, they should; they break their own all the time . Could the members fine PFHA every time PFHA breaks one of their own 'rules'? Wow, they'd go broke for sure.
If things don't change SOON, PFHA will no longer be, they are digging ther own grave. It's only a matter of time. Sad, very sad. I just can't imagine, but they may bring the breed down with them, and THAT can NOT happen!!!
Mareleen, you are so right about that, they should pay when they do break their own rules! hahaha!!
It was a fat old man on a golf cart, he was miserable just a grumpy old man driving around on a golf cart making trouble. I did not see it coming, he kept on and on, I told him it was not the kids fault , it was my idea and I was truly sorry, I just did not know.
Few weeks later, I got the letter registered mail telling me I broke the rules and I was going to get fined.
I explain what happened to Mary Emmons over the phone, I apologized and told her I did not mean any harm to the children and was very sorry , it was only a few feet to the stalls and it was late at night!
But they really needed the $100 dollars and I finally gave it to them.
It is sad!
_________________ Jacky McDaniel
Wildflower Paso Fino &
Trote Y Galope
Home of BOLERO de Sierra Morena
Ocala FL.
.Think the ole man would have turned his head if it was one of 'the big name places' had made this mistake? I truly believe he would have, or at least, if he reported the 'incident' to the 'proper authorities', THEY would not have acted on it. I am sorry this happened to you. You are one of the nicest folks I have met in a long time. As you know, I am in love with Bolero. I hope to meet up again soon, I would love a ride on that boy. I will wear a helmet if you want me to ..
I am sure those kids enjoyed their ride, before that incident, even if it was only for a few minutes. Thank you from me, for sharing your horse! Especially with children!
Please know that I was not trying to break the rules and policy of PFHA, I did not know about that rule and if I did I would have followed it.
You can have a ride on my boy next time you see him, hopefully soon!
After the old grumpy man left, the kids said they knew about the helmet rule but they wanted to get on my Bolero so bad that they forgot to mention it to me! I thought it was cute and of course Bolero was a perfect gentleman. I LOVE HIM!!!!
_________________ Jacky McDaniel
Wildflower Paso Fino &
Trote Y Galope
Home of BOLERO de Sierra Morena
Ocala FL.
It was a fat old man on a golf cart, he was miserable just a grumpy old man driving around on a golf cart making trouble.
I think I know which "grumpy old man" you are referring to. And, yes, he is unpleasant (I've experienced him personally myself), but only to those he doesn't "know", if you know what I mean. He's in love with the feeling of importance, however small a pond he lives and plays in.
I am sorry for your experience. A polite but stern warning would have been more diplomatic. I almost made your mistake once. A mother asked if she could put her child on my stallion's back and take a picture at one of the Shows. I said, no (politely), but only because I wasn't sure how safe it would be and I tend to be over cautious. I didn't even think about the "no children on Stallions rule" or the helmet rule. Yikes! I could've been fined, too I guess. Thanks for sharing your experience. Too bad they weren't nicer about it.
However, it is interesting how quickly they Communicated all of this! LOL. No delays there! Hmmmm....
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but they wanted to get on my Bolero so bad that they forgot to mention it to me! I thought it was cute and of course Bolero was a perfect gentleman. I LOVE HIM!!!! 
